I have a 14 year old son who is in some special education services. He has also been diagnosed with a.d.h.d. in the past and o.d.d. Today while going through his homework binder I came across a questionaire I was suppose to fill out. The questionaire is more like a psychiatric evaluation than anything. Some of these questions are very personal and some are just like they are trying to find the worst in him. I don't see how this test can be helpful to him. I refuse to put him on any medicine no matter what the test results reveal. I also did not ask for this testing. The school psychologist or whatever her title is takes it upon herself to do testing yearly and this was a thrown in added bonus. She is young and probobly does not have children but does have an attitude. Do I have to take this test? Can I refuse? What if the school tries to push medicine on him? His last medicine turned him into a zombie and I refuse to medicate him. A large part is his attitude.

Have you tried calling the school and finding out exactly what it's all about?

I would definitely call the school and ask what the purpose of this is and what the information is going to be used for.

I'd just throw it away. If the psychologist makes an issue of it, I'd make her demonstrate that she has the authority to require you to fill it out and submit it. Most likely she can't.

I would refuse. Unless you asked for it

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They can't force you to do meds if you and his doctor don't feel it's in his best interest. You are the parent. That said, I'm going to give my unsolicited 2cents, which you can choose to disregard.

I think if you don't at least let them do the testing and work with you, it's not going to provide the best environment and assistance for him. The school uses the testing also to justify the costs of the services to the district, state and federal governments. The testing could also uncover some other issues that could enable them to give him assistance in other areas, or could show that he has grown out of a need he is currently receiving services for, allowing a focus to be put on an area of need. The psychologist may be young, but her youth could also be an asset in giving her a fresh eye, along with the knowledge of the latest research and adaptive technologies, plus what other districts offer. I'd give it a chance. I've seen a big difference in my son since we tried meds, which we just started a few months ago (he's 8), and nobody really pushed them on me (but I can have a strong personality, which may cause some to know they'd get nowhere with me). Even with these successful meds, there is a give and take. But the positive is outweighing the negatives in this case. This is not to try to talk you into giving meds a whirl. It's just one of many options, and only you and your family can determine if that is a corner you want to play in.

But I would strongly advise you to give the school a chance, and give the psych. a chance. She does have his best interests at heart, I'm sure. Knowledge is power, and only through having the testing done (which is usually fun and simple for the kids - they get the extra attention, and we don't have to call it a "test"), can you make the choice to get the offered services. I was always so pleased by the results of my son's tests. It uncovered/or put into words, things I knew were a challenge, but also opened the door to help by showing what the schools could do to help. Also, I found that after the testing was done, the principal and the teachers were very respectful of the psychologist and tried to implement her recommendations - like she was the authority figure, which to me was important. I did have to stop conversations at times to get clarity of a term or ask questions, or even dispute certain things respectfully, like if he tested weakly or strongly in an area that day, but I knew the real him. The teacher offered backup input, which could also change the result.

I'm just saying that all it is is for informational purposes. The testing will not/can not in any way force meds or therapy. Just let you know what everyone is dealing with and is a way to get the help and even coping skills that are needed. This is going to be so important as his life changes in the next few years and you are no longer going to be the driving force in his life as he starts to make more of his own choices. He needs the knowledge of what is going on and how best to cope in this world.

Let us know how it goes and what you decide. Just know they are only doing this to help. You could also go to get your own medical eval, since the school one is only for educational ones. We did both and it gave us the full picture, which I'm grateful for. But this is your child, and not a ward of the state, and this isn't like not giving insulin for diabetes, so they will not even try to force you to take a medical approach you don't care to take.

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